Irrigating device for flower beds



Dec'. 26, 1922. 1,439,973. A. OLSON.

IRRIGATING DEVICE FOR FLOWER BEDS.

FILED AUG. 25,` 1922.`

I/zwizw; A26] 023012 il il Patented lllec. 2id, i922..

r 'r *i tali .et alista realm-irrite nevica ron. rrownn enne.

Application filed August 25, i925?. Serial No. 554.248.

To all whom it 'may cof/tecra 'lie it known that l, fixer. yUnsinn a subject oi the ling of yil/weden. residing at St. laulain the county of Ramsey and State oit iviinnesota. have invented certain new and .i'ul' lii'iproveinents in lriigatiiier 'for `i'lowei Pieds, oit' which the a specification. w

'llhis invention relates to irrigating devices tor flower` bede, andhas for its principal object, to providewater storing' and disti'ibutii'ifi' devices which are practically concealed from view by being; wholly buried .in the ground, but accessible from above for the purpose of refilling, and constructed in a manner to present.selectively a deiinite area ot water saturated soil., to the underside et the voluinc ot earth constituting the flower hed, whereby the` water of sat! urated soil is caused toi-permeate the earth by capillary attraction or evaporation, said devices also including in their roiistruction certain novel features of adjustment, whereby said Wet area inayl be increasedor diminished, as maybe :found necessary by the naL ture ofthe soil. i s A i'ulther obtiect oit the invention, is to provide an iniproved irrigating` device of the class described, which is simple in? construction, and designed to' he marde wholly of cement, or oit non-corrosive material, such as copper and zinli, to lrender `it durable and indestructible, and which has noparts which are required to inove orshift iii its operation.

to provide a device of the class described,

which is constructed with a view to avoid.

ing` `fracture of parts by `freezing duringl winter, this being obviated l'iyincliningthe Walls of the reservoir and receptacle in a inanner to prevent direct side pressure ony the walls of thesev vessels. y.

-ther objects oit the inventionywill lbe pointed outas this -specification progresses,

the invention coiisistiiiry in the construction,

combination, and arrangement oi parts hereinafter described `and specically` -.laiined .l`

`forming part oi this;

Bevices llowing `instinent devices for the'vcircular irrigatin A still further object of the invention,

.ifgui'e 3. is a sectional view (inlined-3? .iig/ure Vis a viewloolfing into one end the recejfitacle7 showing part of the `ediustineiit devices for holding' the reservoir at diii'erent levels.

et' l? igure 2. i

ligure 5, a .fragmentary perspective view ci one end of `the underside of the res# eiwoir.` y i c Figure is a vertical sectional view on a'v central line.; ot' a circular irrigatingr device" embodying niy invention. i l

Figure Y; is a plan'view ot' the underside thereof. f y f Alflizgure 8., is a `tragii'ientaryfy perspective f view', oic the lunderside ot the circular recepftaele thereof.

Figure 9,'isfa` fragmentary plan view of the Vdoor oiljthe outer receptacle. i n

Figure l0,` .is a fragmentary perspective view, draw Eto an enlaiged-`scale, of the addevices; and

Figure fil, Lis a A:traginentaiy perspective view showing` a detail in the floor structure y ot' the receptacle. i .s i

lThe invention comprises an outer receptacle or earth containerl, having outwardlyinclined Y surrounding walls,` and i an inner ywater container or reservoir 2, having out* wardly inclined surrounding walls, which latter are parallel with the walls of the receptacle.

The receptacle coinprises end walls f5 andl 3', and side walls'i-Jl, and a bottoni the earth container being long aud narrow, and having on its door,r preferably near,` each end thereof, and extending transversely at right angles tosaid sidewalls, alug 6, each lug` having vaiiiiiclined upper side ".7, which inrlines toward the end wall 3, and a preferably V shapedrib"7.l extendinglongitudiynallyi otthereceptacle, on'sa'id inclined side. viiilyacei'it the inclined side o" each otsaid" `lugs and spaced therefrom, is a shoulder PS,

extending upwardly roin'the l:floor 5, kanffl directed diagonally across thelatter.

Slidi y ingly engaging with. said shoulder with` one ot its sides, is thewedge 9 (one gpegch of sai-d lugs)e formed opposite said side with a working tace l0,` which extends atfrgiht vangles to the longitudinal axis off the recep.v `tacle and parallel with thelug 6.

The reservoir comprises end walls 1141i and side walls 2 12, which walls are parallel, respectively, with the walls of the receptacle, as hereinbefore stated, and a floor 13, parallel with the `floor 5 of the receptacle and spaced therefronu and having a transversely disposed lug` i3. on its under side, at each end thereof, said lugs being positioned to coact with thelugs 6. to slid-- ingly support the reservoir in parallelism With the receptacle l. 1

The lugs 1?/ are formed with inclined sides lll, which latter engage, respectively, with the inclined sides 7 oi the lugs 6," so that When the reservoir is caused to be moved lengthwise, it will vbe simultaneously raised and maintained in, parallelism with the receptacle.

For the purpose oiv holding the reservoir positioned at the desired level, the aforesaid wedges 9 are provided, thel sides l() thereof engaging, respectively, with the sides 1 4 of the lugs i3. Obviously, the reservoir may thus be raised or lowered and so held at any chosen level with respect to the receptacle l, las the Wedges 9 may be slid, respectively, alongthe shoulders 8 un` til they engage 7with the lugs i3.

It is also obvious, that achange of level oit the reservoir will correspondingly change the Width ot the space l5, which separates the surrounding"Walls oi the receptacle and reservoir, said, space always retainingv a uniformV Width between the side Walls 4 and l2, and the end'ivalls 3 and l1. y

i The end vall 3, oi the receptacle, is spaced farther from the reservoir to permit the in sertion of a plurality of superposed, substantially similar, filling plates i6. rl`hese iilling platesl are preferably if uniform thickness and completely cover the inside of the end Wall 3,' and removably lit against the side Walls ofthe receptacle, the lower edges of said plates resting in the grooves 17 in the door 5 of the receptacle, which latter extend parallel with the end Wall "for the full Width thereo'f. These plates serve to displace the volume of wat .ifhich would fill the space which they occupy.

, Normally, with` the plates in position, the

space l5 -isof uniform Width, applicant i@ found by eil is most suitable.

aeriment that half an inch To Widen the space, for a purpose to be` hereinafter described, the reservoir will be f required to be slid on the inclination ot the lugs 6, as hereinbefore explained, andthe Wedges 9 positioned accordingly. rilhis operation, however, will render the space between the end Walls ll and narrower than elsewhere, thereby' disturbing' the uniform` vity 01"' the head of Water contacting With the The reservoirpis provided with a prefer ably lat cover i8, formed on its under side with a surrounding bead 18, to thereby keep the cover .properly positioned. Preferably, 'stone end of the reservoir is the inlet stand, pipe 19, fitted with va closure stopper 20, said pipe communicating `with vthe interior of the reservoir, whereby water v is conducted into the reservoir.

y rlhe inlet pipe extends to the top of the soil (which latteris designated by the let ter A), as indicated in Figure 2, designating a grave, elevatedslightiy 'from the surrounding ground, as is customary, one or' the 'objects of the invention being the yprovision of irrigating` means whereby plants may be maintained in good condition. for reasonable periocs of time between visits to the cemetery'. 'lhe invention, however, may be used Jfor ordinary floi'er beds on level ground.

Piercing the surrounding Walls of the reservoir, pre't'erably lon the level ot the floor, are the Water outlets' 2l, through which vthe Water flows into the receptacle belen. rlhe Water will obviously rise to its own level in the space l5.

The Walls 8, 3, and l of the receptacle, as shown," entendv beyond lthe top of the cover an appreciable distance, to approximately the ground line above which the soil A extends tomake the mound consti-1 tuting a grave. y hisextension of the surrounding Walls of the receptacle .serves to prevent the moisture from being dissipated to the soil surroundingthe receptacle, and forms a body of moistened soil covering,` the lid into which the roots of the` plants extend.'

ln operation, the receptacle, Which also may be termedv a soil and Water container, is buried, as indicatedin Figures 2 and 3.y The reservoir is then placed in position, as hereinbefore described, the proper level thereof having been previously ascertained by experiment to secure the proper Width or the surrounding space l5, which may also be termed the head of the Water saturated soil.' The cover is then placed in position.

i Soil isnow packed closely around the cover,

and tamped into the surrounding-space l5, the soil having been previouslyplacedon the 'Hoor of' the receptacle to llthe space under the reservoir. The flower bedis then built up to the level of the stopper 20, or slightly higher to just cover same, if de sired, it'being a simple matter to find same after becoming` amiliarwith the location.

The reservoir is now iilled with Water through the intake pipe I9. The soil in the space l5, surroundingthe reservoir, is constantly saturated Withv Water' to the consistency of soft mud. As the Water reduces in volume, thehead of the mud between the Walls falls accordingly, but is `not reduced ics lil

in area, and continues to function to conduct water by capillary action to the flower bed above, until the water in the door ot the receptacle is exhausted.

Applicant has found that the width of the space l5, or, in other words, the area ot the head of the mud, determines, to a close approximation, the length of time required iter exhausting the water supply `in the resor- Voir, he having t'ound that a diilerence ol one-eighth of an inch, more or less, in the width ot said space, will make a diderence oi several days in the time required tor the evaporation of the water. Further, he has found that the nature of the soil, in some localities, requires wider spaces than others, where the soil is clayey and hard. Thus, in installing my improved irrigating device, the area ot' the opening surrounding the top of the soil and water container is adjusted with due regard to the nature ot the soil present, some soils requiring an inch space to keep the liower bed in good condition, while in others but halt an inch is required to secure satisfactory results.

In Figures G, 7, 8, and 9, l have shown a circular irrigating device embodying my invention, said device comprising a circular reservoir 22, having an outwardly inclined surrounding wall, a circular receptacle 23, having a circular surrrounding wall parallel with the wall of the reservoir to form. the space 24C of uniform. width therebetween; a cover 25, for the reservoir, said cover having an inlet pipe 26, and an arrangement of inclined lugs and fastening wedges, which may be briefly described as follows:

Corresponding to the lugs 6 of the device described in the foregoing, are the lugs 27, which in turn engage with the llugs 28 on the under side of the reservoir 22, as indicated in Figure 10. The faces of the lugs 27 and 28 are, respectively, channeled and rounded to slidingly interit to keep the reservoir 22, from becoming dislodged, and correspond to the rib 7', which slides in the notch 7 oi the lug 13 to keep the reservoir 2 longitudinally central oi the receptacle. Thus, by a rotary movement of the reservoir, the latter will be simultaneously raised bodily. li or the `purpose of holding the reservoir raised to the desired position, the wedge 29 is provided, said wedge engaging with the side 30 of the lug 30, and with the tace 3l of the lug 28, the side 30 being inclined toward the lugs 28 and 30 with respect to the center of the receptacle 28.

Centrally, the reservoir 22 is provided with a vertical open rtop hollow column 32, the cover 25 having a central opening to register with the open top oi said column, so that the water mingled with earth will rise in said column to the soil above. By

the use of the circular irrigating device, small, round flower beds may be kept moist for 'periods ot a week. or more, the device being buried in the saine manner as the de' vice lirst described.

with the inside ot' the surrouncing` walls said receptacle and uniformly spaced therefrom, a cover Ylor said container, closinlet pipe for said container Ventending` throu and an appreciable distance bel avond y said cover, and plurality oi spaced outlet openings pertorating the surrounding walls oi' said container at a point adjacent the floor thereof to admit water to said receptacle to commingle with the soil therein.

2. ln a device of the class described, cornprisi'ng in combination, a closed reservoir having a closable water inlet pipe tor filling the re Vaward beyond the top thereof, spaced tions in the walls of said reservoir to drain the contents thereoilf, and a water and earth container designed to receive said Y ,rvoiin the inside oi. ene walls or said conier being parallel with the outside ot'tlie walls et' si id reservoir and spaced therefrom.

3. in irrigating device :for flower beds, comprising in combination, a closed reservoir having surrounding walls inclined outward- Ll y, and-an inlet pipe leading from the in terior thereof to a point above the top thereof, whereby to conduct water to the reservoir., spaced discharge openings in the walls of the reservoir to drain the contents thereoit', a receptacle adapted to hold water, containing said reservoir, and having surrounding walls parallel with the walls of said reservoir and spaced therefrom, coacting in clines between said receptacle and reservoir for slidingly supporting the latter in a manner to etlect a raising thereoi2 when slid, and retaining means ior holding the reservoir in .the position to which it is slid.

4;. in irrigating device for flower beds, comprisingin combination7 a closed reservoir having discharge openings in its sides to discharge its contents, a water container containii j said receptacle and extending to the top thereof, the surrounding walls oi' saidv container and reservoir inclining spacedly outwardly in parallelism, inclines formed on the bottom of said receptacle within the latter, inclines formed on the un der side ci' said reservoir engaging with said lirst named inclines and coacting therewith to bodily raise said reservoir in parallelism ending an appreciable disf l Ll 0 Said side Walls and one of device ici* h'ofvei' heels, in confiliinsitimi.y ieceptecle 'n ezuh and, Water' in comn i to he .rnnied below che @Bonn/Li, :fi closecl resenvoii mid ifeceyecle in. manner te we of" nni'liei'i i WiciL-h enliiely cionnfl ,fier-icl ieeeiveii', sezzifl space @dani-eel to eoniain eeitsind Weiher in coininingling ihei `e @pen communication with n i "nth ccnstitnng ehe iiewei openings periioiaitingg the vcin lion discharging the Nine? @go receptacle.

6. An iiiigating device for flower hedis, ecinpiising in ceinhination, an elongated closed resewoiihaving outwardly inclined side and end Walls., and an inlet pipe extending; 'from 'he top thefeo'f,y a` iecepteole containing said ieseiveii and having' Walle ciinecl in parallelism with Seial reservoir Walls and exzenniiigv to the top theieof, and normally eneicecl uniformly *eheifefiom et Said end walls7 and discharge openings in said reservoir for c( H vflieieloy izo conduct Water to the inge-moin? Space" diechziige openings in the Walls oi? the .,eivoii izo drain the contents olie/neo? i'ecep'icle containing seid; reser- Voii and having surrounding; Walls parallel nfil1 the mili@ of saicl reservoir and spaced thei'eifom coectinp; inolines between said ieceptaclc and ieseitvoir for slidingly suppcwing; the letter in a, manner to e'li'ect a neiging; thereof when slid, and means fon slidaloly holding said ieservoii' longitudinally central of seid receptacle.

ln testimony whereof l affix niv signatuie.

AXEiXoLSoN. 

